SOUTH Australia has rocketed into top spot on the One-Day Cup ladder after a 44-run win over Western Australia at the WACA yesterday. The visitors successfully defended 9-208, skittling the home side for 164 in 38.5 overs to secure a spot in the March 1 final with one round of matches left to play.

>> SCROLL to see the scorecards & standings

Having been sent in to bat, the SACAs had plenty of starts scattered throughout their innings, with five batters notching up over 20 runs. Liam Scott top-scored with 47 off 68 before becoming one of Mahli Beardman’s four wickets. Lance Morris (2-34) and debutant Corey Rocchiccioli (2-38) joined the party.

In response, Western Australia made a positive start thanks largely to 34 off 19 from opener Sam Fanning. His dismissal at 0-40 sparked a top order collapse of 4-5, which brought Ashton Turner (43 off 40) and D’Arcy Short (55 off 68) together. The pair combined for 77 runs, ultimately to no avail.

Once the key partnership was broken by Scott (3-16), Western Australia would go on to lose its last six wickets for just 42 runs. The result marked a fifth defeat this season for the three-time defending champions, who sit dead last and are in a regenerative phase after their long-time dominance.

Elsewhere yesterday, another Lachlan Hearne century propelled Queensland to a 54-run victory over New South Wales. The Bulls recovered from 4-54 to reach 9-310 in their shortened 45-over innings thanks to Hearne (107 off 91) and Jack Wildermuth (83 off 56).

Former-Blue Hearne brought up his first List A ton in just 86 balls, an effort which was eclipsed in vein by Test sensation Sam Konstas, who did so in 82 deliveries. Konstas’ 116 off 98 gave his side a sniff, and things were looking good with the Blues 1-113 at one stage in the first 20 overs.

Young quick Callum Vidler (2-66) helped turn the momentum by dismissing Moises Henriques and Oliver Davies for ducks within the same over, leaving much of the heavy lifting to Konstas. He became the ninth wicket with 72 runs left to chase, which proved unassailable.

Despite the loss, New South Wales denied Queensland a bonus point, which ultimately sees the Blues hold onto second spot ahead of the Bulls. NSW can lock in a spot in the final by beating Victoria on February 23, though Queensland stands a chance if it can trounce Western Australia.

Victoria’s chances of a final berth were dealt a significant blow after going down to Tasmania by five wickets in Hobart. The Vics posted 9-266 but failed to defend the total as Caleb Jewell carried his bat for an unbeaten 105 (115), carrying the home side to victory with 57 deliveries to spare.

Mitchell Owen got Tasmania off to a blinding start with four boundaries and as many sixes in a quickfire 48 off 19. While Jewell was the mainstay, Charlie Wakim (44 off 37) also proved a key pillar in the middle order after Jordan Silk (29 off 37) and Tim Ward (22 off 23) achieved starts.

Victoria was well served by half-centuries to Sam Harper (50 off 57) and Tom Rogers (68 off 70), who struggled atop the Melbourne Stars’ batting order this season. The likes of Sam Elliott (46* off 43) and Will Sutherland (30 off 34) wagged the tail after their side fell to 6-187 with 11 overs left to bat.

Tasmania’s role as spoiler yielded its second win of the season, good enough for fifth spot on the ladder. A meeting with South Australia awaits. Meanwhile, Victoria takes on New South Wales as both sides jostle for a place in the decider against the SACAs.

SCORECARDS

SOUTH AUSTRALIA vs. WESTERN AUSTRALIA

RESULT: South Australia def. Western Australia by 44 runs
POTM: Liam Scott (South Australia)
TOSS: Western Australia won & elected to bowl

South Australia 9-208 (50)
Liam Scott 47 (68), Jason Sangha 38 (36), Nathan McSweeney 28 (60)
Mahli Beardman 4-46 (10), Lance Morris 2-34 (10), Corey Rocchiccioli 2-38 (10)

Western Australia 10-164 (38.5)
D’Arcy Short 55 (68), Ashton Turner 43 (40), Sam Fanning 34 (19)
Liam Scott 3-16 (8), Lloyd Pope 2-21 (4.5), Wes Agar 2-32 (9)

—

QUEENSLAND vs. NEW SOUTH WALES

RESULT: Queensland def. New South Wales by 54 runs
POTM: Lachlan Hearne (Queensland)
TOSS: New South Wales won & elected to bowl

Queensland 10-310 (45)
Lachlan Hearne 107 (91), Jack Wildermuth 83 (56), Max Bryant 34 (38)
Jack Nisbet 4-49 (9), Hayden Kerr 2-36 (9), Jack Edwards 2-59 (9)

New South Wales 10-256 (42.2)
Sam Konstas 116 (98), Matthew Gilkes 34 (34), Lachlan Shaw 23 (31)
Liam Guthrie 3-45 (8.2), Jack Wildermuth 2-42 (8), Gurinder Sandhu 2-44 (8)

—

TASMANIA vs. VICTORIA

RESULT: Tasmania def. Victoria by 5 wickets
POTM: Caleb Jewell (Tasmania)
TOSS: Victoria won & elected to bat

Victoria 9-266 (50)
Tom Rogers 68 (70), Sam Harper 50 (57), Sam Elliott 46* (43)
Raf MacMillan 2-39 (9), Beau Webster 2-41 (9), Mitchell Owen 1-25 (6)

Tasmania 5-270 (40.3)
Caleb Jewell 105* (115), Mitchell Owen 48 (19), Charlie Wakim 44 (37)
Will Sutherland 2-45 (7), Harry Dixon 1-14 (4), Sam Elliott 1-49 (7.3)

—

ONE-DAY CUP STANDINGS

1. South Australia | 6-4, 1NR | 0.32 NRR | 21 points
2. New South Wales | 3-2, 1 NR | 0.428 NRR | 16 points
3. Queensland | 3-2, 1 NR | 0.882 NRR | 15 points
4. Victoria | 3-3 | -0.476 NRR | 13 points
5. Tasmania | 2-3, 1NR | 0.106 NRR | 11 points
6. Western Australia | 1-5 | -0.99 NRR | 4 points

NR = No Result
NRR = Net Run Rate

REMAINING FIXTURES

Sunday February 23:

New South Wales vs. Victoria @ Cricket Central
South Australia vs. Tasmania @ Adelaide Oval
Queensland vs. Western Australia @ The Gabba
The Final (1st vs. 2nd) @ TBC